Norwegian MPs nominate Snowden for Nobel Peace Prize

Edward Snowden has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by two Norwegian lawmakers, who say the NSA whistleblower contributed to “transparency and global stability” by revealing the depth and sophistication of the global surveillance apparatus.

Snorre Valen and Baard Vegar Solhjell, parliamentarians from
Norway’s Socialist Left Party, announced the nomination on
Facebook on Wednesday.

Noting that “peace is more than simply the absence of
war,” the MPs said that Snowden had contributed to global
security by revealing “the nature and technological prowess
of modern surveillance.”

“The level of sophistication and depth of surveillance that
citizens all over the world are subject to, has stunned us, and
stirred debate all over the world. By doing this, he has
contributed critical knowledge about how modern surveillance and
intelligence directed towards states and citizens is carried
out,” a statement by the Norwegian MPs said.

The legislators said Snowden’s leaks may have damaged the
security interests of several nations in the short-term, noting
they do not necessarily support or condone all of the former NSA
contractor’s disclosures.

“We are, however, convinced that the public debate and
changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden's
whistle-blowing has contributed to a more peaceful, stable and
peaceful world order.”

Each year the Norwegian Nobel Committee invites 'qualified
people' from national assemblies and governments, courts,
universities and former laureates to submit nominations.

The deadline to nominate candidates for the 2014 Nobel Peace
Prize is Saturday. The winner is announced on the second Friday
of October each year.

In October, a group of US whistleblowers presented Snowden with
the Sam Adams Award for ‘Integrity in Intelligence’ in Moscow,
where the former NSA was granted temporary asylum.

Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, who was present at the ceremony,
told RT the award “is a candlestick
holder for someone, who has shone bright light into dark
corners.”

In July, the German branch of Transparency International also
awarded Snowden its Whistleblower Award. That same month, a
Swedish sociology professor also nominated NSA leaker Snowden for the Nobel
Peace Prize for his “heroic effort at great personal
cost.”

Professor Stefan Svallfors said giving Snowden the Nobel nod
could “save the prize from the disrepute incurred by the
hasty and ill-conceived decision” to give the 2009 award to
Barack Obama.

In 2013, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Hague-based
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
“for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical
weapons.” OPCW inspectors entered Syria on October 1 to help
implement a last minute plan hammered out by the United States
and Russia which saw Syrian President Bashar Assad agree to
destroy his chemical weapons stockpiles in order to avert US-led
military strikes in the country.

The Nobel Committee received far more criticism the previous year
by opting to grant the European Union the peace prize "for
over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and
reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe."